Discarded Trash Bags Litter Cal International Course

A large garbage bag converted into pre-race garb, AKA a runner's poncho, is an inexpensive way to stay warm while waiting for big races to start. But what happens when seemingly half the field has one and then discards it en route?

Communities along the course of Sunday's California International Marathon in Sacramento are finding out. As The Modesto Bee reports, converted garbage bags were the pre-race garb of choice on a windy, rain-soaked marathon morning. "We're talking quite a few garbage bags," said race director John Mansoor.

In dry years, the marathon does as many big races do–collect clothing discarded at the start and donate it to charity. This year, however, the emphasis has shifted to trash pick-up. Some runners reported discarded bags along the marathon course were pinned down and slick, causing a safety hazard, the Bee notes. That hazard continued as parts of the marathon course were opened to traffic and volunteers had to abandon bag pick-up efforts.

Mansoor said that volunteers will continue to pick up bags along the race course but will do so only as traffic safety allows, so post-race clean-up could take longer than usual.